Stewardship of People

I love the concept of stewardship. It leaves us to consider life as a protector and as a guardian for what's right and what's worthy. Many times we only think of stewardship in context on finances, but it often seems to end there.

Stewardship is certainly much larger than just financial responsibility. I would propose that the greatest stewardship responsibility we all carry is the honor and respect of people. I would also propose that there is no greater joy in the workplace than in treating people with the respect due them as people.

Now, I don't propose that's interpreted that we're easy on people. Quite the opposite. Stewardship relationship and people is difficult and it demands clear communication, set expectations, honoring of character, and connection to heart needs.

The point is this. If you interact with people then you've been given the responsibility to steward everyone of those relationships and interactions as best as possible. Each is an opportunity to honor well. And each opportunity to honor is a blessed to us each.

Punished for Good

There's an odd concept that I haven't even really gotten my head around why it's so common nor have I really any great solution for how one might solve it. Perhaps open awareness is a good place to start.

It's the concept that somehow we get punished when we do good. Perhaps this is a concept where my parents would tell me that life isn't fair!

Here is an example...

How many of us have a budget to maintain. Say we're given $100K for a project and we manage it well and end up landing the project at $80K. Well done right? What happens more often that not is that our budget is cut next year down to $80K and while we were good stewards it seems as though we've been punished.

I could list several other examples but this one makes the point that we're trying to address just fine. But what can we do with this? How can we reward stewardship the right way? How can we encourage people to be good stewards?

The greater concern here is that by mishandling stewardship rewards then we almost bread poor stewardship. It's human nature to know that people are going to just try and spend the full $100 if it's going to be decreased if they don't... even if they don't need to spend it all.

I'll end on stewardship and it's role throughout our lives. We must seek to be good stewards and part of that principle comes from supervisors rewarding stewardship well.

Maybe there's opportunity for us to use that other $20K toward another project and now we see stewardship birthing fresh ideas and impact.

Food for thought...

Debating Character

I hesitated writing on this subject but it's been weighing on me for sometime now.

I have found the presidential debates quite interesting in recent weeks. Sure, I have my political biases, but leaving that aside for the moment I would like to take notice at what's addressed and what isn't.

I find it ironic that each of these candidates espouses a plan for change and what they intend to do once elected. It doesn't take a brilliant person to determine that each of these men did not actually sit down and write their own plan... but rather a team of people wrote these plans for them. Of course, the plans do reflect policy positions of each respective person, but let's be honest. The greatest driver in content for these plans is political and for the purpose of persuasion.

Now, are these plans well written and potentially worthwhile for this nation? Sure, they very well may be. But let's address the next issue. How many presidents actually get to implement their plan? Is that the role of the US President by terms of our Constitution? It's not.

So then, why are we debating a plan that has little relevancy to who these men truly are?

We've completely missed what's most important. Character. Character is what draws us to people to follow them in the long run. Character is what determines how we will act in response to things that aren't "planned". Character is what sets us apart from others and positions us to lead others well. And character is the foundation for any person to truly follow another.

But we don't discuss character. How come? It seems as though the American people don't care that much about it? Or do they? What if we could have a debate on character? What if we could see who these men are for their character and understand how they will respond to situations?

I'll leave with this thought. Think on times in your life where you've been most willing to follow someone. The times when you've found it easy to follow someone. What stood out? Was it their charisma or their character? Which of those traits most concerns you for someone you would trust and consider a friend?

Why don't we try debating character next time?

The Morality of Capitalism

Recent economical issues in the United States have brought about various conversations regarding economics, social order, responsibility, and strategic next steps. Although each of these are extremely important, I wish to take a moment to deviate from the hype of discussion and even from the normal strategy blog entries to focus on one point of economics that isn't being discussed... the morality of capitalism.

Yes, I am a bleeding capitalist and believe that the capitalistic model for economics is the most beneficial system for the greatest amount of people, most honoring to the endeavors of man's creativity, and most of all, the most biblically based economic system explored.

But here is what's most important for us to understand in the history of economic thought and evolution of economic models... capitalism is chiefly rooted in a biblical foundation of truth, justice, and most of all, morality. Even though Adam Smith is credited as the "father of capitalism", much original thought in capitalistic theory was proposed by theologian John Calvin.

I'm not here to divulge a history lesson; simply to state a fact. The capitalistic method is meant for a moral people, it only works with a moral people, it was only intended for a moral people. Now we wonder why things are falling apart economically all around us but we don't stop to consider the foundational root of the issue. Yes, there are multiple market factors impacting our world but none of us can deny the lack of credibility, integrity, and morality in our business leaders today.

My challenge for us is to consider what impact morality and immorality have on all of life... not just the "church world" of the religious right. We have trampled something far more sacred than simple economics, we have destroyed the values of morality and therefore set the tone for all types of economic issues.

There is hope, but our hope is never founded in economics, nations, or government. Our hope should always be in our principles, the right principles, that will drive us to leadership of integrity, credibility, and morality. Yes, capitalism was intended for a moral people.

Is it any wonder that capitalism is failing in this great nation now?